Slide type battery ejection mechanism

Abstract

A battery ejection mechanism for ejecting a battery housing removably attached to an electrical device housing. The mechanism includes at least one ejection member having a button and an arm. The arm is adapted to transfer a force applied on the button to the electrical device housing to assist in the removal of the battery pack from the electrical device housing. Button motion may also be used to cause retraction of latches mounted on the battery housing.

1. A battery ejection mechanism for ejecting a battery housing that is removably secured to a portion of an electrical device housing, the battery housing including a first surface lying in a first plane, a second surface lying in a second plane, and a latch movably attached thereto to join the battery housing to the potion of the electrical device housing, the mechanism comprising a first ejection member, a second ejection member and at least one rail structure for facilitating the assembly of the battery housing in an operative position on the portion of the electrical device housing, the first ejection member secured to the battery housing and comprising a first button and a first arm, wherein the first ejection member operates to transfer a mechanical force applied to the first button through the first arm to both the portion of the electrical device housing and the latch, the second ejection member secured to the battery housing and comprising a second button and a second arm, wherein the second ejection member operates to transfer a mechanical force applied to the second button through the second arm to both the portion of the electrical device housing and the latch, wherein the first button is positioned on the first surface of the battery housing and the second button is positioned on the second surface of the battery housing. 
   
   
     2. The battery ejection mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm applies a mechanical force to the portion of the electrical device housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which a mechanical force is applied to the first button. 
   
   
     3. The battery ejection mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising a first spring adapted to bias the first ejection member in a first position. 
   
   
     4. The battery ejection mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the first position corresponds to the first arm not contacting the portion of the electrical device housing. 
   
   
     5. The battery ejection mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical device housing has at least one electrical contact and wherein the first arm is in physical contact with the portion of the electrical device housing when the mechanical force is applied to the first button. 
   
   
     6. The battery ejection mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm comprises a cam. 
   
   
     7. The battery ejection mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface is positioned opposite the first surface. 
   
   
     8. The battery ejection mechanism of  claim 7  further comprising at least two rail structures formed substantially parallel to one another for facilitating the assembly of the battery housing in an operative position on the portion of the electrical device housing. 
   
   
     9. The battery ejection mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the electrical device housing is selected from one of a power tool or a battery charger. 
   
   
     10. A battery ejection mechanism for ejecting a battery housing that is removably secured to a portion of an electrical device housing selected from one of a power tool or a battery charger, the portion of the electrical device housing including a latch movably attached thereto to join the battery housing to the potion of the electrical device housing, the mechanism comprising a first ejection member, a second ejection member and at least one rail structure for facilitating the assembly of the battery housing in an operative position on the portion of the electrical device housing, the first ejection member secured to the battery housing and including a first button and a first arm, wherein the first ejection member operates to transfer a mechanical force applied to the first button through the first arm to the both portion of the electrical device housing and the latch, the second ejection member secured to the battery housing and including a second button and a second arm, wherein the second ejection member operates to transfer a mechanical force applied to the second button through the second arm to the both portion of the electrical device housing and the latch. 
   
   
     11. A method of ejecting a battery housing removably attached to an electrical device housing, the battery housing including a first surface lying in a first plane, a second surface lying in a second plane, at least one rail structure for facilitating the assembly of the battery housing in an operative position on the portion of the electrical device housing, and a latch movably attached thereto to join the battery housing to the electrical device housing, the method comprising:
 a. providing a first ejection member rotatably secured to the battery housing and operable to transfer a mechanical force to both the electrical device housing and the latch; and 
 b. providing a second ejection member rotatably secured to the battery housing and operable to transfer a mechanical force to both the electrical device housing and the latch. 
 
   
   
     12. A battery housing comprising,
 a. at least one rechargeable cell; 
 b. a battery housing adapted to house the at least one rechargeable cell and including a first surface lying in a first plane, a second surface lying in a second plane and at least one rail structure for facilitating the assembly of the battery housing in an operative position on a portion of an electrical device housing; 
 c. at least one electrical contact electrically connected to the at least one cell; 
 d. a first ejection member rotatably secured to the housing and comprising a first button disposed in the first surface and a first arm wherein the first ejection member operates to transfer a mechanical force applied to the first button through the first arm to both the portion of the electrical device housing and a latch movably attached to the portion of the electrical device to join the battery housing to the potion of the electrical device housing, the portion of the electrical device selected from one of a power tool or a battery charger; and 
 e. a second ejection member rotatably secured to the housing and comprising a second button disposed in the second surface and a second arm wherein the second ejection member operates to transfer a mechanical force applied to the second button through the second arm to both the portion of an electrical device housing and the latch. 
 
   
   
     13. A battery housing, comprising
 a. a top having a first aperture and a second aperture; 
 b. a bottom opposed to the top and connected to the top by a first surface lying in a first plane and a second surface lying in a second plane; 
 c. at least one cell disposed within the housing; 
 d. at least one electrical contact electrically connected to at least one of the at least one cells and adapted to be accessible through the second aperture; 
 e. a latch movably attached thereto to join the battery housing to a potion of an electrical device housing; 
 f. a first ejection member rotatably secured to the housing and having a first button disposed on the first surface, a first latch arm, and a first ejection arm wherein the first ejection arm is adapted to transfer a force applied to the first button through the first ejection arm to the portion of the electrical device housing selected from one of a power tool or a battery charger and through the first latch arm to the latch; 
 g. a second ejection member rotatably secured to the housing and having a second button disposed on the second surface, a second latch arm, and a second ejection arm wherein the second ejection arm is adapted to transfer a force applied to the second button through the second ejection arm to the portion of an electrical device housing selected from one of a power tool or a battery charger and through the second latch arm to the latch; and 
 h. at least one rail structure for facilitating the assembly of the battery housing in an operative position on the portion of the electrical device housing.